Hey Ruby, sorry you're going through this, but know that it's standard for a lot of hippies.

It certainly was for me, especially at this point in your recovery. I had the benefit of a counselor to talk to once a week, and my GP prescribed anti depressants due to a divorce that I was going through concurrent with my HRs. Both really helped to deal with the post surgery funk; the thing is that it made it smaller, but the depression was still there.

It is hard to keep the faith when you are still recuperating, feel the pain from the surgery and are confined. The situation doesn't last long in perspective, but when you are in it, those trees are huge and the forest is not visible.

Patience is mentioned a lot here, and it sounds easy to do but here is one of many times where it is very hard. You are experiencing miracles, but the daily ritual is hard.

This time will pass and you'll get your independence back quickly. The job issues, etc. are things I feared as well and you know what? things worked out. A few weeks does not wipe out years of committed good work.

This is all part of the whirlpool that you can get into when you get depressed. Exercise helped me, calling and talking to friends and family who have kept in touch is important, just to talk. Those who haven't will be in touch later, but you need to lean on those who are there for you now.

Keep your chin up, Ruby - it's fine to b!tch and moan here, we've all done it when we were feeling down and discouraged. Then give yourself a gift and see the good things that are happening.

The pain I experienced after the op was different to the pain before, didn't have that constant toothache type pain so although it was there I knew what it was and that it would fade in time where the pre op pain only ever got worse and worse. My depression hit big time when I buggered it up by overdoing it and tripping. Then felt better when I found out there was hope. Then got depressed again because three months non weight bearing on my op leg caused a lot of pain and discomfort in the other. But where is the pain and depression now? What pain and depression? Not me, in the imortal words of Tony the Tiger from the Frosties adds " I Feeeeel Grrrrreat" and so will you. It is all a matter of time which will make the bad times a faded memory. In the big scheme of things your recovery will seem like a small insignificant time of your life.
Keep focussed on what you can do, not what you can't. Time will heal body and mind.

Jas

I cant really add anything more to the wise words from everyone else Ruby!

Times may be difficult now but the future is looking good so just keep looking to the future x

Quote from: Anna on September 09, 2012, 12:33:15 PM
I cant really add anything more to the wise words from everyone else Ruby!

Times may be difficult now but the future is looking good so just keep looking to the future x

I feel particularly bad moaning and complaining when I know what struggles you're going through Anna :( We've spoken a lot via text lately and I never like saying i'm having a rough day with the depression as I know that technically I'm fixed, and I know you're still waiting and would love to be in my postition :( I truly hope your solution, whatever it ends up being, comes soon. Very soon!

Thank you all for your kind words. Reassurance is what I needed I think. My parents have been been very supportive, but it's hard for them to truly grasp what we go through as hippies. For my friends in real life, I feel like I have to put on a front for them.... almost like I moaned and moped around before the surgery so now I feel like I need to be happy.

It's hard to explain, but i'm not happy. Not yet.

You've been in that waiting stage for a long time and sometimes the expectation of what the world will be like post op is hard to live up to.  I know what you mean about putting on a brave face when you're not having a good day.  Family and friends so want you to recover, you sometimes don't want to disappoint them or admit that you are having a setback. 

Stick with it, you will get back to where you want to be.

Ka

Thanks Ka. It definately it a long, hard road to recovery, but like I just said to Mike... we need to encourage and praise the small victories - they all add up  :)

I got rid of a bit of bitterness from the past today. I wrote a letter to my previous hip surgeon here in Essex about his flippant treatment of my dysplasia, his refusal to operate and his callous words of 'No surgeon will ever go near you'. I was of course, courteous, however points were made and I got a lot off my chest. I informed him that since his above statement I have had a successful resurfacing from one of the best hip surgeons in the world and he forsees a full recovery. Oh! it felt so good to finally get rid of all the resentment and anger I had been harbouring towards him and his refusal to help a patient who was in a great deal of pain.

I really hope he doesn't write off other patients he has so quickly.

Nice one Ruby-you did right.
You never know, he may even have a little think about what you said and take it on board.
You might make him realise he doesn't know as much as he thinks. Well done.
You could even call to see him in a few months time when you're walking straight and tall just to see his face!

Something to be proud of ruby. Not only did it right your own wrong, it may sway him towards a better response to future rubys.

I hope so guys. I was truly disgusted by his words :( I probably won't get a response from him, but at least I've got it all off my chest and can move on.

That is good therapy Ruby, even if you don't get a reply.  You are perfectly entitled to give him some feedback, hope he takes it on board.   

How are you feeling now Ruby. Hope you are feeling a bit better especially after your letter that took  guts to write. Do your excercises and keep the faith patience is the greatest virtue when recovering from this I know because I had none and F*****D it right up. Now I have learned the hard way I am on the mend. Everyone heals at different rates so don't look at others and think you should be doing better. Look back at how you were just before the op and just after the op and measure your progress on you.
I would love to write to my family Doctor who, when I was 4 years old told my parents there was nothing wrong with me and that I ought to pull my backside in before someone kicks it in for me. Think it would be wasted now as the doddery old git probably wouldn't remember. But thats where second opinions come in. The next GP recognised my symptoms as Perthes instantly and put me on to a specialist.

I think that was a great thing to do Ruby! Some surgeons and GP's need to change their attitude and I think its good you spoke out. Like you said, you may not get a reply but it made you feel better and he may take it on board and think twice next time.

Jason, I went to the GP so many times when I was younger with hip pain. I was always told to take Ibuprofen and sent on my way. It wasnt till the age of 23 that I was diagnosed with dysplasia. If it was caught sooned they they would have been able to do something. Also, when I went at 23 they told me there were no other options other than a THR. PAO's wernt even mentioned to me and now my hip is too bad or one. Im angry at the way in which I have been fobbed off my whole life and not given the facts but ....cest la vie. Its too late for us too turn back time, but its not too late to ry make a difference for others and to make people more aware  :)

Well said, Anna.

Interesting that you said Jason, that your bum stuck out and it was a symptom of perthes, I had no idea. Ive got a ducks bum, always walked with it stuck out a bit, perhaps they're all related. Have to confess I don't know anything about perthes. Off to google!

Info about Perthes disease, I wonder if it is related to the dysplasia in some way. I have "small mishapen femoral heads with shallow laterally facing acetabulum" according to my initial diagnostic X-ray. I also had chronic knee pain which used to stop me sleeping properly for years...

Anyway, more correctly, I HAD these issues... Am incredibly fortunate to have fixed them.

Perthes' Disease

Perthes' disease is a condition where the top of the thigh bone (the femoral head) softens and breaks down. It occurs in some children and causes a limp and other symptoms. The bone gradually heals and reforms as the child grows. The aim of treatment is to ensure that the femoral head reforms back into its normal shape so that the hip joint can work well.

What is Perthes' disease?
Perthes' disease is a condition of the hip which occurs in some children. It was first described in 1910 by three separate doctors and so it is sometimes called Calvé-Legg-Perthes disease after each of these doctors.

What happens in Perthes' disease?




Perthes' disease occurs in a part of the hip joint called the femoral head. This is the rounded top of the femur (the thigh bone) which sits inside the acetabulum (the hip socket). Something happens to the small blood vessels which supply the femoral head with blood. So, parts of the femoral head lose their blood supply. As a result, the bone cells in the affected area die, the bone softens, and the bone can fracture or become distorted. The severity of the condition can vary.

Over several months the blood vessels regrow, and the blood supply returns to the bone tissue. New bone tissue is laid down, and so the femoral head reforms and regrows. This is similar to how bone reforms and regrows after any normal fracture or break to a bone. But, with Perthes' disease, it takes longer (up to several years). The main concern with regrowth of the femoral head is to ensure that it forms a good spherical (rounded) shape. This helps it to fit well into the hip joint socket. If the femoral head is less rounded, hip movements may be affected and there may be more wear and tear on the hip joint.

The exact cause of the blood vessel problem that occurs in the first place is not known. A child with Perthes' disease is usually otherwise well.

Perthes' disease usually only affects one hip, but in about 1 in 6 cases it affects both hips (usually at separate times).

Who gets Perthes' disease?
In the UK, about 1 in 1,000 children will get Perthes' disease. It occurs most commonly between the ages of 4 and 8 years. About four boys are affected for every one girl.

What are the symptoms of Perthes' disease?
Symptoms tend to develop gradually and can include:

A limp. This may gradually become worse over a few weeks.
Pain in the hip and groin area. Sometimes pain is felt just in the knee or the thigh instead of in the hip - this is called referred pain.
Stiffness and a reduced range of movement of the affected hip.
In time, the affected leg may become slightly thinner (wasted) because the thigh muscles become thinner as they are not used so much as those in the other leg.
The affected leg may look shorter than the good leg.
How is Perthes' disease diagnosed?
The diagnosis can usually be made by a doctor's examination of the hip, plus an X-ray (this is usually an X-ray of both hips so that the two sides can be compared). Sometimes other tests may be suggested if the diagnosis is not clear or if a more detailed picture of the hip joint is needed. Possible tests may include: an MRI scan, a bone scan or an arthrogram (an X-ray where dye is injected into the space within a joint). Also, blood tests, or a sample of fluid from the hip joint, may be needed to rule out other problems such as infection.

What is the treatment for Perthes' disease?
The aim of treatment is to promote the healing process and to ensure that the femoral head remains well seated in the hip socket as it heals and regrows. Which is the best treatment can depend on the age of the child and the severity of the condition. Treatments may include observation, bed rest and/or crutches, a plaster cast or special leg brace, or surgery. Your doctor will advise on the best treatment for your child.

Observation and physiotherapy
In younger children (under 5 years old), and those with mild disease, Perthes' disease will usually heal well without any specific treatment. These children are treated by observation, often with physiotherapy or home exercises. The home exercises help to keep the hip joint mobile and in a good position in the hip socket. Advice may also include to encourage swimming (to keep the hip joint active in the full range of movements) but to avoid activities that can lead to heavy impact on the hip joint, such as those involving trampolines and bouncy castles. However, any advice will be tailored to your child's needs. Your child will also need regular follow-up with their specialist to check how their femoral head is healing. Regular X-rays of their hips are usually suggested.

Painkillers may also be useful to help relieve pain. Common painkillers suggested are ibuprofen and paracetamol.

Bed rest and/or crutches
This may be needed by some children for a short time if their symptoms are bad.

Plaster casts or a special brace
These may be considered in some cases. The aim is to keep the femoral head well positioned in the hip socket. The cast or brace usually helps to keep the leg slightly abducted (slightly pointing outwards). The special braces are also called orthotic devices. With many of these, the child is able to walk and weight bear, but the braces usually need to be worn for many months. The success of brace treatment is not entirely clear, and many doctors are increasingly advising surgery.

Surgery
An operation may be considered in some cases, particularly in older children or those more severely affected. Surgery can help to keep the femoral head well positioned whilst it heals, or can improve the shape and function of the femoral head if it has not healed well. There are various options, depending on each child's individual situation. If surgery is being considered, you should discuss the options fully with your child's surgeon.

What is the outcome (prognosis)?
In many cases, the femoral head regrows and remodels back to normal, or near-normal. The hip joint then returns to normal and is able to work as usual. However, it can take two or more years after the condition first starts.

The main concern is that the femoral head does not reform properly. Flattening of the femoral head can occur in some cases and this can lead to a permanent change in the hip joint. This may cause stiffness of the hip joint. It can also cause arthritis of the hip joint at an earlier age than usual - for example, at around age 40. Sometimes, a hip replacement is needed as treatment for arthritis.

Things which may affect outcome include:

Age. The younger the child is when Perthes' disease develops, the better the chance of a good outcome. This is because there is longer time for the hip to remodel before the child finishes growing. Children who develop Perthes' disease after about the age of 8-9 have the highest risk of permanent hip joint problems, such as stiffness and arthritis; there is less time for the hip to remodel before they finish growing.
Gender. For any given age when the condition develops, boys have a better chance of a good outcome than girls. This may be because girls tend to finish growing a bit earlier than boys.
Severity. The more severe the condition (which can be judged by the X-ray pictures of the hip), the greater the risk of permanent problems with the hip joint.

I got it in my left and right and had all the treatments listed including Double Osteotomy. I never suffered from Dysplasia.

Ouch, Jason, double osteotomy sounds painful.

I just wondered if they were related in some way.  I guess they are as in they are hip problems but probably no more than that.

I was headed for a triple osteotomy at one stage - thank God the BHR was allowed in the end!

Are you a Triped? :-\

I don't think i've ever been this desperate. Even before the surgery. I'm seriously worse off, pain wise, then before the BHR :(

Laying in bed, sobbing, too scared to move my leg due to pain. This is no life for anyone. This was meant to be the start of a new life, rejoining my dance classes, getting social and maybe, if i'm lucky, start dating again.... who is going to want someone who has a permanant limp, who's god knows how many stones over weight and who's self esteem is at rock bottom.

I hate my hip. I hate what it's done to me and I hate how i've let myself get this low.

Ruby get yourself back to Mr T!